Ignition apparatus



March 27, 1945. H, HARTZELL IGNITION APPARATUS Filed Aug. 12, 1942 4Sheebs-Sheet 1 March 27, 1945. H, ARTZ L 2,372,490

IGNITION APPARATUS Filed Aug. 12, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 lid March 27,1945. H. L. HARTZELL IGNITION APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 12,1942 w :m. -H i March 27, 1945.

H. L HART ZELL IGNITION APPARATUS Filed Aug. 12, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 O0 0 0 0 0 0 0 nr H NDWOJO t Patented Mar. 27, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE IGNITION APPARATUS Herman L. Hartsell, Anderson, Ind., assignorto General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of DelawareApplication 12, 1942, Serial No. 454,581

6 Claims.

This invention relates to timer and distributor units for internalcombustion engine and it is an object of the present invention toprovide a shielded ignition apparatus of economical construction. Toaccomplish this object I provide a metal cover which is attached to themetal timer housing and which encloses the distributor cap provided fordirectly attaching the distributor cap cover to the ignition timerhousing.

A further object of the invention. is to provide an ignition distributorand unit which is interchangeable with a magneto. To accomplish thisobject I provide the timer distributor unit with a horizontal shaft insubstitution for the usual horizontal shaft of the magneto and I providea vertical shaft driven. by the horizontal shaft for driving theignition timer cam and the distributor rotor. In this connection it isan object to facilitate the assembly of the horizontal and verticalshaft with the ignition timer housing and I provide a constructionwhereby these two shafts together with their bearings and gearsassociated therewith may be assembled as subassemblies with the ignitiontimer housing.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein preferred embodiments of the present invention areclearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the ignition timer distributor unit embodyingthe present invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the ignition timer, the shield cover and thedistributor cap having been removed, certain screws being shown insection.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line 44 of Fig.1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view on an enlarged scaleof one of the spark plug cables.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 5-8 of Fi 4.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation, partly in section of a modified form of theinvention, said view being taken in the direction of arrow '|--1 ofFlg.8.

Fig. 8 is a. sectional view on line 5- 8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. '9 is a plan view taken in the direction of arrow 9 of Fig. 8, theshield cover being shown in section.

, Fig. 9A is a sectional view on line OA-QA of Fig. 9;

Figs. 10 and 11 are sectional views on the lines |0-| 0 andrespectivelyof'Flg. 5.

Referring to Fig. 4 the housing provides sockets or wells 2| and '22 forthe reception of shafts 23 and 24 respectively and the bearings andgears associated therewith. Shaft 23 is supported by a ball bearin 25retained bya. plate 26 attached to housing 20 by screws 21. Shaft 23 isjournaled in a plain bearing 28 at the end of the socket 2| which iscovered by a plug 28. Shaft 23 drives a spiral gear 3|] having a. hub 3|attached by pin 32 to the shaft. Between gear and the bearing 2-5 thereis located a spacer sleeve 33. The shaft 23' together with the gear 38and the sleeve 33 and the bearing 25 can be assembled as asubassemblyunit and then moved into the socket 2| after which thebearing 25 is secured in place by the plate 26 attached by screws 21 tohousing v2|). The shaft 24 is supported at its lower end by bearing 35covered bya plug 86 fitting into the lower end of the socket or well 22.Shaft 24 is driven by a gear 31 meshing with gear 34 and having a hub 38attached to the shaft by pin 39. Shaft 24 is supported also by a ballbearing 40 retained upon a wall 4| by the housing 20 by retainer ring 42secured by screws 43. Shaft 24 is connected with a weight plate 45carrying studs 46. pivotally supporting weights 4! having tails 48 forengaging lever arms 49 attached to a cam 50. Plate 45 carries studs 5|which support a cover plate 52 and have threaded portions reduced indiameter and extending 'thru holes in the cover 52 and extending thruholes in straps 54' and receiving. nuts 53 which secure the straps 54and the cover 52 is positioned upon the studs 5|. Each stud 46 providesan anchor for one end of a spring 55 attached at its other end to astud. 51 on a lever arm 49. As the speed of the shaft 24. increases theweights 41 move outwardly from the shaft 24 to vary the angular relationbetween the shaft 24 and the ignition timer cam 50 in order to increasethe spark ad- Vance as the speed increases. Before the weights are.assembled with the plate 45, the shaft 24 assemhl'ed with gear 31,bearing 40 and bearing retainer 42 is assembled with housing 20. Plate45 is provided with a hole 45:1:which can be brought into registry withholes in retainer 42 and in housing wall 4| in order to provide for theattaching of screws 43. After the screws 43 have been applied, theweights 41, lever arms 49, cam 54, cover 52, springs 56 and otherassociated parts are assembled; and thenv a. circuit breaker plate 60 isassembled with the housing 20.

The circuit breaker plate 50, attached to the housing by screws 6| (Fig.2), supports a double breaker mechanism each breaker comprising a E2 ofplate 60, said plate providing a bearing for the plate 10 concentricwith the bearing 40. Plate 10 is axially adjustable to provide forsimultane-g ous separation of the pairs of contacts 62, 63.

The upper one of the screws'69 supported by ,a' bracket 69a,insulatingly supported by the plate j 60, is connected by a wire 80 withan ignition coil primary. The lower one of the screws 69 which;

is insulatingly supported by an ear 14 of the bracket 10 is connected bya wire 8| with the primary of another ignition coil. A condenser is inparallel with. the upper set of contacts 62, 63 and. a condenser 16 isin parallel with the lower set of contacts.

The two pairs of contacts are separated simultaneously by the coactionof the cam withthe rubbing blocks so that the two ignition coilsconnected with the wires 80, 8I will provide simultaneously two sparkingimpulses which are distributed simultaneously by a rotor 82 to sparkplugs of the same engine cylinder. For this purpose the ignition timercam 50 drives the distributor rotor'82 carrying segments 83 and 86 fordistributing to alternate posts 84 embedded in a distributor cap 85 ofinsulating material.

Segment 83 is electrically connected with a sleeve 81 carrying a brush88 urged upwardly by a spring 89 against a ring 90 embedded in the cap85. Segment 86 is electrically connected with a button 9I urgeddownwardly by a spring 92 located in a cap insert 93 and electricallyconnected with the button 9|. The ring 90 is connected with an insert 94carrying a metal pin 95 which enters between the strands of a hightension wire 96 covered by insulation 91 and connected with an ignitioncoil secondary. The insert 93 carries a pin 98 which enters between thestrands of a high tension wire 99 covered by insulation I00 andconnected with the secondary of another ignition coil,

Each distributor post 84 carries a pin IOI entering between the standsof a wire I02 coveredby insulation I03 and connected with an enginespark plug. v The distributor cap 85 is enclosed by a cover or shieldIIO having an opening II4 between two small holes II l6. Shield IIOsupports a breather II! which comprises a domelike button II2 havingaserrated edge II3 secured over the opening H4 and having integral tangsII5 which extend through the holes H6 and which are bentover at 1against the inside of the shield-I I0. Each of the'spark plug wires I02and each of the ignition coil wires 96, 99 which pass through the shieldH0 are associated therewith in the same manner as now will be describedwith reference to Fig. 5. For example, wire I02 covered by insulationI03 is encased in a flexible metal tube I which at its lower endsurrounds the shank I2I ofan eyelet whose head I22 is turned around thelower edge of the tube I20. Each wire, such as I02, extends into anupwardly extending tubu-' lar boss I23 of the distributor cap 85. At itsu per end, each boss I23 is provided with a conical surface I24, Betweenthis surface I24 and the bead I22 of the eyelet there is located a softrubber sealing washer I25 which is clamped against the upper end of theboss I23 and is forced against the insulation I03 of the wire I02 by thetightening of a bushing I26 threadedly engaging the shield IIO, As thebushing I26 is screwed downwardly to forcethe eyelet bead I22 downwardlyagainst the soft rubber washer I25 the outward expansioniof the washerI25 is resisted by its engagement with an annular shoulder I 21 provided.-;by the shield I I0.

Upward movement of the cap 851s prevented .byz'its-uengagement with therubber washers I25 which are held in place by the shield III] which is'attached'tpfthe housing 20 by screws I30 and fI3I, Figs. 11' a d 3.Each of the screws I30 pass also thru'a'block" is: attached by screwsI33 to the-shield IIO. Each block I32 is received by a notch, the shieldI I0 and by a notch at the lower edge of the cap 85. One of the blocksI32 is wider than the other so that the cap 85 will fit upon the housing20 only in one position.

, Theform of the invention shown in Figs. 7 through 11 is like the formshown in Figs. 1 through 6 with respect to certain parts t whichreference. ismade by reference numbers which are the same as applied tocorresponding parts in Figs. 1 through 6,.but with the afiixed a.

An oil seal unit I surrounds the shaft 23a and comprisesa felt ring I5Iurged against the shaft 23a by a garter spring I52. The annular flangeI53 of ring I 5I is clamped between the fiat wall-I54 ofthe housing I55of the unit I50 and a washer I56.- The edge I551: of the housing forcesa washer I51 against a metal spacer ring I58 and the latter against thewasher I56.

The cam 50a. drives a rotor block I60 carrying an:insert I6I to which ascrew I63a attaches a segment I63 and a leaf spring I64 carrying abutton I65. Segment I63 distributes sparking impulses to a series offour posts I66 (Figs. 11 and 9A). Each post I66 is integral with aninsert I61 molded in a distributor cap I10 and receiving a pointed screwI68 adapted to-pierce through the insulation I1I ofv a wire I12 and tocontact with the strands thereof. I

The rotor button I engages a button I15 carried by a screw I16 threadedinto the cap I10 and having a point I11 adapted to pierce through theinsulation I18 of a wire I19 and to contact with the strands thereof.Wire I19 is connected with secondary winding of the ignition coil,

The 'distributor'cap I10 is retained upon the upperedge of thedistributor housing 20a by a metal "cover or shield I corresponding infunction' to'sh'ield N0 of the form shown in Figs. 1 to ,6. Screws I8Isecure the cover I80 to the housing 20d. Screws I82 secure the cover I80to the cap I10. The cover I80 is provided with a plurality of bushingsI83 each threaded to receive a nut I84 having a flange I85 for engagingand urging a ferrule or eyelet I86 against a rubber washer I81 and thelatter against the conical surface I88 provided by the bushing I83. .Theferrule or eyelet I86 is attached to an end of a flexible: metal sheathI90 through which each wire I19 or I12 passes. The ignition timer isconnected with the primary of an ignition coil by wires enclosed by aflexible metal sheath 200 secured by' a nut 20I to a threaded tubularboss 202 integral with the housing 20a. Through this boss the wirepasses and is attached to a terminal 203 (Fig. 10). I

he timer housing 20a and the shield I80 are each provided with abreather Illa as shown in Fig.9.

While the embodiments of the present invention as herein disclosed,constitute preferred forms, it isto beunderstood that other forms mightbe adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows.

1. An ignition distributor comprising a metal housing, a shaftjournalled in the housing, a distributor rotor driven by the shaft andhaving a distributing segment, a non-conducting distributor cap locatedupon the housing and enclosing the rotor and supporting a conductorelectrically connected with the segment and supporting conducting poststo which sparking impulses are distributed by the rotor segment andproviding cable receiving sockets having a tapered seat at its outerextremity for receiving insulated wires for making connection with theconductors of the cap, means located within the sockets for electricallyconnecting the wires with the conductors of the cap, a metal shieldenclosing the cap and located upon the metal housing and retaining thecap upon the housing, said shield having openings in alignment with thewire receiving sockets of the cap, means for attaching the shield to thehousing, insulated wires extending through the holes in the shield andinto the sockets of the cap and provided with flexible metalsheathsterminating at the shield, a member of compressible Water-proof materialproviding a gasket which is slipped over the end of the insulated wire,said member resting on the seat, ferrules each at the terminus of acable sheath; and means cooperating with the ferrules for securing thecables to the distributor and for compressing the gasket to seal thejoint between the cable and gasket and between the gasket and seat.

2. An ignition distributor comprising a metal housing, a shaftjournalled in the housing, a distributor rotor driven by the shaft andhaving a distributing segment, a non-conducting distributor cap locatedupon the housing and enclosing the rotor and supporting a conductorelectrically connected with the segment and supporting conducting poststo which sparking impulses are distributed by the rotor segment andproviding cable receiving sockets for receiving insulated distributorrotor driven-by the shaft and havin wires for making connection with theconductors of the cap, means located within the sockets for electricallyconnecting the wires with the conductors of the cap, yieldable meanssupported at a the upper ends of the sockets, a metal shield enclosingthe cap and located upon the metal housing and retaining the cap uponthe housing, said shield having openings in alignment with the wirereceiving sockets of the cap, means for attaching the shield to thehousing, insulated wires extending through the holes in the shieldmember and through the yieldable means and into the sockets of the capmember and provided with flexible metal sheaths terminating at theshield member, ferrules each located at a terminus of a cable sheath,and bushings each screw-threadedly connected with the shield member andengageable with a sheath ferrule to clamp the yieldable means betweenthe bushings and the sockets to cause the yieldable means to becompressed and' to seal the joint between the insulation of the cableand the sockets and the yieldable means.

3. An ignition distributor comprising a metal housing, a shaftjournalled in the housing, a

a distributing segment, a non-conducting distributor cap located uponthe housing'and enclosing the rotor and supporting a conductorelectricallyconnected with the segment and supporting conducting poststo which sparking impulses are distributed by the rotor segment andproviding cable receiving sockets for receiving insulated wires formaking connection with the conductors of the cap, means located withinthe sockets for electrically connecting the wires with the conductors ofthe cap, a metal shield enclosing the cap and located upon the metalhousing and retaining the cap upon the housing, said shield havingopenings in alignment with the wire receiving sockets of the cap, meansfor attaching the shield to the housing, insulated wires extendingthrough the holes in the shield memher and into the sockets of the capmember and provided with flexible metal sheaths terminating at theshield member, ferrules each located at a terminus of a cable sheath,sealing washers each surrounding an insulated wire and located between asheath ferrule and one of said members, and bushings each screwthreadedly connected with the shield member and engageable with a sheathferrule for forcing a ferrule against a sealing washer and the latteragainst the cap to prevent upward movement of the cap relative to thehousing.

4. An ignition distributor according to claim 3 in which sockets of thedistributor cap each provide a recess having a conical surface againstwhich a resilient sealing washer is forced against the cable and intothe recess when a sheath ferrule is clamped against it by a bushing toprovide a seal between the washer and the insulation of the wires andbetween the conical seat and Washer.

5. An ignition distributor according to claim 3 in which the holes inthe shield member are provided by threaded tubular bosses attached tothe shield, each of said bosses cooperating with a bushing and providinga surface against which a soft rubber sealing washer is forced when asheath ferrule is clamped against it by a bushing to provide a sealbetween the insulation of the wires and the washer and between thewasher and the bushing.

6. An ignition distributor comprising a metal housing, a shaftjournalled in the housing, a distributor rotor driven by the shaft andhaving a distributing segment, a nonconducting distributor cap locatedupon the housing and enclosing the rotor and supporting a conductorelectrically connected with the segment and supporting conducting poststo which sparking impulses are distributed by the rotor segment andproviding cable receiving sockets having a tapered seat at its outerextremity for receiving insulated wires for making connection with theconductors of the cap, means locatedwithin the sockets for electricallyconnecting the wires with the conductors of the cap, a metal shieldenclosing the cap and located upon the metal housing and retaining thecap upon the housing, said shield having openings provided with threadsand in alignment with the wire receiving socket of the cap, saidopenings being reduced at their lower ends below the threaded portion toprovide an annular shoulder of lesser periphery than the threadedportion, said shoulders being adjacent the tops of the sockets of thecap, means for attaching the shield to the housing, insulated wiresextending through the openings of the 'shield and into the sockets ofthe cap and provided with flexible metal sheaths terminating at theshield, ferrules each at the terminus of a cable sheath a member ofcompressible waterproof material, such as soft rubber providing gasketswhich are slipped over the ends of the insulated wires below theferrules, said members

